Scaffolding



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SCAFFOLDING Filed June 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. ll, 1947.

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Fei. 11 1947. 'G, W, CAUSEY y 2,415,461

S CAFFOLD I NG Filed June 5, 13945 3 sheet's-Sheet 2 INVENTR @ya M Y Patented Feb. 11, 1947 UNITEDA STATES PATENT OFFICE SCAFFOLDING George W. Causey, Pittsburgh, Pa.

ApplicationV June 5, 1945 Serial No. 597,615

or less standardized as to length, for convenience in handling, and therefore the horizontal extent of the available working surface is limited, and, in instances where such horizontal extent is greater than the length of the unit, the stage and its supporting tackle must be shifted during the job.

Again in modern sectional scaffolding, units formed of metal tubing are in common use and, for convenience in erection and demolition, these units are limited in size, and lack the necessary length of bridge spaces of greater width than that can be spanned by the available units.

The principal object of my present invention is the provision of means for forming horizontal supports, such for instance as painters stages and scaffold bridges orr spans, of greater length than that of the standard units, by combining in end to end relation a plurality of standard units and so reenforcing the combined structure to prevent downward buckling or sagging of the same under load.

For the accomplishment of this object I provide a bridge or connector member into which the adjacent ends of two units arereceived and secured and a truss structureformed of avpost depending from the connector member and across which a cord or cords connected to the outer ends of the two units is tautly stretched.

For the purpose above described I provide a new and improved bridge member provided with sockets into which the ends of the units are ren ceived and held.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the follow-V same on enlarged scale and taken along. the dotted.

line 3--3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bridge member employed to connect the two stage. units.

2 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along th dotted line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar View taken along the dotted line 6-6 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective she-wing the end portion of one of the units, the left hand one in Fig. 1, with the winch boxing applied thereto,

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the boxing removed,

from place. Y

Fig. 9 is a broken perspective of the boxing for the outer end portionv of the other unit.

Fig. 10 is a broken plan view showingmy invention applied to the formation of a composite support by the union of the abutting ends of two pairs of tubular sectional scaffolding units.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the same.

dotted line l2-l2 in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing one of the terminal cages mounted on the outer end of one pair of units.

Fig. 14 isr an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 15 is a detail of the same in side elevation.

Fig. 16 is a perspective showing the other terminal cage in place.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing a bridge member for use in connecting single scaffolding units in end to end relation.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, wherein I illustratethe invention applied' to stages, such as painters flying ladders, I and 2 indicatea pair 'of stages in longitudinal alignment and with their adjacent ends in abut-Y ting relation. v

The stages are shown as of the standard wooden construction and comprising the longitudinal rails 3 held in parallel spaced relation by the rungs or crossbars 4 to which are nailed or otherwise fastened the longitudinal floor slats 5.

6 indicates the bridge member in which the adjoining end portions of the units are inserted and secured. The bridge is formed by" bending or pressing a blank of sheet or plate metal of the proper gauge to provide the requisite strength and rigidity, and is preferably approximately five feet in length. The longitudinal center of the bridge member forms a, deck 'l of the proper width to` receive the extremities of the stages I and 2, and at the lateral edges of the deck 'l the metal is first bent up vertically as at 8,V theninwardly horizontally as at S and then down vertically vas at I!) to form sockets H in which the rails Sof the stage units are telescoped with a sliding iit.

' Forja distance, forl instance, one foot and a;v

half on either side of the transverse center line of the bridge 6, the inner walls I of the sockets are extended to and welded to the deck 'I while, as shown at Illa at either side thereof, the lower portion of the walls III are cut away to provide clearance for the end rungs 4 of the stages.

The vertical walls 8 and I0 of the sockets are provided at spaced intervals with bolt holes through whichand through registering bolt holes in the rails 3 the stay bolts I2 extend.

The underside of the bridge B is provided with a depending post structure I3 over which are tautly stretched the cord members i4, preferably cables, such members being attached to the outer extremities of the stage units I and 2. j Y The post structure may be of any suitableconstruction. As a convenient and suitable structure I have shown an integral plate comprisingtwo upwardly diverging-wings I5 whose upper extremities are .anged'horizontally and welded tothe under side of the deck 1./ At their lower ends the wings. are connected by the horizontal portion I6 which is provided with upwardly pressed parallel grooves II extending longitudinally of the bridge member 6 and in which the intermediate portions ofthe cords I 4`are nested. The plate 'is reenfor'ced by the two brace plates I8 which may be integraland have their apex welded to the underside of the deck, and which diverge downwardly and are welded at their lower ends to the angles between the wings I5 and the horizontal portionl. yThus there is provided a structure which functions as an inverted king post tofformwith the cords I4 anunder-truss for the composite support. l

Suitableremovable boxings are provided for the outer ends of the stage units to the attachment and tightening of the cords I4, which preferably arelengths of wire cable. Thus on one of the stage units, illustrated in the drawings as the unit I, I provide the boxing I9 illustrated in Figs. 'I and 8.

The boxing I9 comprises two parallel rectangular. channel members 29 open at the :top and of proper dimensions to receive the end portions v of therails 3 of the unit, theinner walls'of the channels being downwardly notched as at 2I to provide clearance for the adjacent rung 4 of the unit I.

The outer ends of the channel members 20 are rigidly connected by the cross plate 22. The walls of the channel members are provided lwith registering sets of boltholes 23 Yand the rails 3 of the unit I are provided with registering holes so that stay bolts 24 may be used to detachably mount the boxing I9 on the end oi .the unit I. The channels 20 are rigidly connected by the cross brace 25 weldedto the bottoms of the channels 20 and under which brace run the cables I4.

A The plate 22 is provided with spaced holes 26 through which the ends of the cables I4 extend and are wound around the winch 21 mounted in theV box 23 attached to' the outer face of the plate22.` A

Theends of the shaft upon which the winch is mounted extend through bearing holes in the end walls of the box 28, and vone of said Vends is squared for the application of a winding handle while the other end is provided with a pawl and ratchet device 29 to prevent accidental unwinding of the winch. Y

- On the outer end of the other stage unit 2 is mounted a similar boxing 39 .which is shown in the incomplete perspectiveof'lig. 10, the same being'a substantial duplicate' of boxing 'I9 except that the box 28 contains two substantial hooks 3| welded to the wall 22 and which are engaged by loops or eyes formed on the cables I Ll which extend through the holes 26 in the wall 22.

Referring now to Figs. to 15 inclusive, 32 and 33 indicate two pairs of parallel sectional scaffolding units, each unit comprising a pair of parallel tubular rails 34 permanently connected in spaced relation by the rungs. ory connecting members 35. The members of each pair of units are shown detachably braced and connected together by the cross braces 36 which are usually formed of rods or tubing of smaller gauge than that of the rails 34. The braces have iiattened .extremities pierced with bolt holes to fit down over threaded studs extending from the rails and are held in place by wing nuts. The braces are usually crossed to form X-braces with bolts 3l engaging their intersecting portions. The ends of the rails 3! are arranged for pin and socket attachment to the ends of aligned units, one'end of a rail being provided with an axially protrud-l the pair of units 32 to the ends of the units."

33, is similar'to the bridge member 6 shown on the preceding views for connecting the ends of stages I and 2, the bridge member 38 being/prof-l vided with a like deck Tand with `sockets II into' which the ends of the units 32 andA 33 have a working fit.

However I prefer to have` the inner vertical walls ID of the sockets to extend down to and be welded to the deck I for their full'length.A In case cross braces 36 are employed adjacent,

the ends of the'units 32 and 33 the walls I9 would then be cut away adjacent the ends of thev walls, as at Illa, in Fig. 3, to provide clearance for the end portions of the'cross braces. 'Q

39 indicates pins or bolts extending vertically through holes in the/top walls 9 of' the socket and the deck and also through registering holes in theupper and lower rails of the units, to detachably lock the units to the bridge.

The underside of the bridge 38 is providedwith' a depending king post structure I3 similar to that,

shown in connection with the bridge S, and over which the cables I4 are tautly stretched, their ends being attached to the outer ends of the units:

32 and 33.

The outer ends of each pair offunits 32 and 33 are held in proper spaced relation by means of the cages 40 which consist of two 'parallel lengths of tubing of the same gauge as therjails 34, bent into a semi-circular curve at their.'cen`4 j ters to form two parallel legs 4I, the legs being" spaced apartto register with the rails of one The two curved membersare held of the units. in proper spaced relation with their legs parallel by the upper and lower struts 42 which are weldedl to the upper and lower ends of'thecurved por-, tions. The ends of the legs are arranged forythe' usual pin and socket connection with. thjexends of the rails of the units. ,j

At one of the outer ends ofthe composite support, the left in Figs. 10 and l1, and in Figs; '13

14 and 15, a pair of vertical bars 43 are mounted in spaced relation on the struts t2, the upper end4 of the bars being hooked to engagev over the top` strut and'thefflower ends of the bars vbeing-bifurcated to straddle the lower bars, bolts 43a extending through the bars and struts to hold the former in position. Mounted on the bars 43 is a horizontally disposed box 44 having its inner side open, and in said box is mounted a winch d5 upon which the ends of the cables I4 are wound. 46 indicates a pair of horizontal bars connecting the vertical bars 43 between which the cables I4 extend.

The bars 43 of the cage 46 at the other end of the composite support, the right in Figs. and 11, and in Fig. 16, are connected by a brace IlI to reenforce the bars, and looped about the bars are the eyes I8 of the adjacent ends oi the cables I 4.

In case single units, instead of pairs of units as above described, are to be coupled end to end to form a composite support, I employ a bridge member of less width, such as shown at I9 in Fig. 17, the deck being omitted as unnecessary andthe depending king post structure being of substantially the same width as that of the socket II and being attached to the oor of the latter. In such case but one tension cord or cable I4 may be used and therefore but one cable groove I'I is provided.

I claim:

1. In a composite support of the character described, the combination of a pair of support units arranged in longitudinal alignment and each comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart longitudinal rails connected together at intervals by cross connections, a bridge member provided along each of its longitudinal edges with socket means in which the adjacent ends of the rails are telescoped, and means to secure said ends in the socket means.

2. In a composite support of the character described, the combination of a pair of support units arranged in longitudinal alignment, each unit comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal members cross connected together in spaced relation, and a bridge member provided with a longitudinal extending socket along each of its lateral edges in which the end portions of the longitudinal members of the units are telescoped, a deck portion connecting the sockets and over which the end portions of the support units eX- tend, and means to secure said longitudinal members to the bridge member.

3. The structure of claim 2 characterized by the cutting away of the lower portions of the inner walls of the sockets adjacent to either end thereof to provide clearance for the cross connection between the longitudinal members of the units.

4. In a composite support of the character described, the combination of a pair of support units arranged in longitudinal alignment, a bridge member provided with socket means in which the inner ends of the units are telescoped, a post member depending from the bridge member, and a tension cord stretched tautly across the bridge member and fastened at its ends to the outer ends of said units.

5. In a composite support of the character described, the combination of a pair of support units arranged in end to end relation, each unit comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal members cross connected together in spaced relation, a bridge member provided with parallel socket means in which the inner ends of the longitudinal members are telescoped, a post member depending from the socket member, and a tension cord stretched tightly across the post member and having its ends attached to the outer ends of the units.

6. A bridge member, for connecting the ends of a pair of support units arranged in longitudinal alignment, comprising socket means in which the inner ends of the units are telescoped, and a post member depending from the bridge member across which tension cords attached to the outer ends of the units are stretched.

7. A bridge member for connecting the ends of a pair of longitudinally aligned support units each consisting of a pair of parallel longitudinal members held in spaced relation to each other, comprising a pair of parallel socket means in proper spaced relation to receive in telescopic relation the ends of the corresponding longitudinal members of the units, and a deck connecting said socket members to maintain the same in proper relative position and over which the end portions oi the support units extend.

S. A bridge member, for connecting the ends of a pair of longitudinally aligned support units each consisting of a pair of parallel longitudinal members held in spaced relation to each other, comprising a pair of parallel socket means in proper spaced relation to receive in telescopic relation the end portions of the corresponding longitudinal members of the support units, a deck connecting said socket members and maintaining the sam@ in proper spaced relation, and a post member depending from the bridge member and across which a tension cord to be attached to the outer ends of the units may be stretched.

9. In a composite support for the purposes described comprising a pair of support units arranged in longitudinal alignment, a bridge member provided with socket means into which the adjacent end portions of the units are telescoped into juxta relation, a post member carried by the bridge member and normal thereto, and a tension cord stretched across the post member and having its ends secured to the outer ends of the units,

10. The structure of claim 9 characterized by the provision of means mounted on one of the units for regulating the tension of the cord.

GEORGE W. CAUSEY.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,115,775 Bisbach Nov, 3, 1914 1,825,590 Hollister Sept. 29, 1931 968,805 Riikonen Aug. 30, 1910 622,666 Burwell Apr. 11, 1899 1,774,268 Harding Aug. 26, 1930 

